Ashton Laytham came to Fayerweather, his uncle's estate, as an orphan at the age of seven. Family and servants alike perceived Ashton as an unlovable child and shunned him; as an adult, the occasional illicit rendezvous aside, Ashton remains aloof and alone. When his uncle dies, yet more abuse falls upon Ashton's shoulders: the estate is bankrupt and Ashton must make good on his uncle's gaming debts.
With the family talisman stolen and the suspects fled, Ashton faces certain ruin until the arrival of Geo Stephenson, who holds all of Sir Laytham's IOUs. Geo proposes a solution: Ashton will accommodate him in his bed, thereby paying off the debt. Attracted to Geo in spite of himself and desperate for any human kindness, Ashton agrees… never expecting to lose his heart to a man who claims he will never give his.
Review
Read Bless Us With Content by Tinnean if you want to engage in a little harmless fun and mischief – if you want to read something solely for adventure and a goodly amount of hot titillation. Or maybe if you’re a hopeless romantic and love the old fashioned romances that perhaps your mother or grandmother used to read – or if you like soap operas such that are heavy on superficial drama and light on true depth of character and atmosphere and story – you should read Bless Us With Content. But even if you do crave something a little more substantial a little less flimsy, you may still get a chuckle – a little charge out of Bless Us With Content. I mean I did, and I really didn’t expect to. I’m much more of a Jane Austen/ E.M. Forster type of guy when it comes to period romances. But to its credit this book doesn’t pretend to be what it isn’t. The cover is your typical dime store romance novel cover (except with two guys). The storyline “is what it is” – rather predictable but satisfying because it’s what you expect.
It is the early 1830s and young Ashton Laytham has inherited Fayerweather - the estate of his rich uncle Eustace, a mean old bastard who finally dies. The trouble is Eustace is so deeply in debt, the future of the estate is in jeopardy. How can young Ashton avoid certain financial ruin and family disgrace? Enter the rich, dashing and gorgeous Geo Stephenson who just happens to hold all of Ashton’s uncle’s IOUs. He makes handsome Ashton an offer he can’t refuse. If Ashton agrees to occupy his bed and sexually satisfy him, the debt will gradually be erased. That’s the major plotline of the book. But these two guys are immediately attracted to each other anyway so the story really doesn’t have anywhere to go. There are subplots involving a lost family jewel ( a big fiery ruby) , a friendly stable boy, three mean orphaned brothers, two rather snotty girls and a kind hearted aunt – but they are somewhat secondary. Most of the time this book is all about Ashton wondering whether or not Geo truly loves him while all along , it’s obvious to the reader he does.
Because the sex is romantic and hot; Because Tinnean writes in a light, old fashioned, classic romance novel style - while at the same time this book is about two very masculine men - this book is almost satiric. The trouble is it lacks wit, so it’s not that funny. It is somewhat funny however and somewhat entertaining. Plus the pace is rather quick and to the point; therein lies the charm. Look, this book doesn’t take itself too seriously and I didn’t take this book too seriously. I rather suspect it was more fun to write than it was to read. But it was kind of fun to read - kind of. Come to think of it, after reading this book I wish someone would bless me with content.
